I'm starting to get a little more into cigars and do not mind spending a little more for a good one now that I know a little bit and can appreciate them.

Can some of you share with me some good Bourbon/Cigars that marry well? I have a pretty good collection of Bourbon and a large B&M Cigar Shop near by so I should be able to match up with your suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Edward_call_me_Ed

10-09-2006, 07:15

I'm starting to get a little more into cigars and do not mind spending a little more for a good one now that I know a little bit and can appreciate them.

Can some of you share with me some good Bourbon/Cigars that marry well? I have a pretty good collection of Bourbon and a large B&M Cigar Shop near by so I should be able to match up with your suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

I am almost certainly more of a novice than you as far as cigars are concerned. And since I live in Japan and can buy Cuban cigars legally that is mostly what I have smoked. What I can tell you is this, I like a high proof bourbon with whatever I smoke. Booker's is probably the one I choose to drink with a cigar most often.

I often drink a cask strenght Sherry Monster like Glenfarclas 105 or Macalland 10 year old cask strenght with a cigar. I have never tried a smoky peaty malt whisky with a cigar. It just doesn't make sense somehow. Someday, in the interests of science I will give it a go.

Ed

fricky

10-09-2006, 12:25

I like bourbon and I like smoking cigars. I like any cigar with any bourbon, I believe that they go well together. I have problems trying to pick a favorite bourbon or a favorite cigar or a specific cigar to compliment a specific bourbon.
Doug

BourbonJoe

10-09-2006, 16:41

I mostly agree with Doug. I like a lot of different cigars and a lot of different bourbons. The most recent pairing (tonight) was an Eagle Rare 10 y/o with a Joya De Nicraragua Antano 1970. Simply superb.
Joe :usflag:

DrinkyBanjo

10-10-2006, 05:12

Okay, maybe we'll modify the angle of this thread. How about some of your favoite Bourbons to drink while smoking and some of your favorite Puros as well? I'll try out the GDNA 1970, looks promising.

HighTower

10-11-2006, 03:32

Ok, this may be of no help to you at all, but when I read this thread, it made me remember of an old wine and spirit journal in which they paired cuban coronas with bourbons and rums.

So first of all was Sam Cougar bourbon (I don't think you guys have it over there) - it was matched with a St Dupont. " A superbly balanced and constraucted cigar with great woody characteristics, splendidly balanced with smooth tones of nuts and spice and an enjoyable leathery finish."
Cougar Bourbon - "Golden tawny colour. Sweet mellow spirit aromas. Creamy citrus with sweet mellow vanillin flavours. Nice oak/spirit finish.

Hoyo De Monterrey/Jefferson's Reserve
"A full bodied smoke with a core of earthy and spicy flavours with a strong woody finish. Enjoyment was offset by the wrapper unravelling part way through this smoke."
Jefferson's 15YO - "Gold tawny colour. Sherry barrel-like aged aromas with spirity edge. Strong spirit flavours. Good middle palate creaminess' spirit heat."

If you're at all interested in the rum pairings with the other 6 cigars, or just the notes on the cigars, let me know. The rums are Tanduay Rum, Capain Morgan and Coruba.

Scott

DrinkyBanjo

10-11-2006, 07:14

Unfortunately we cannot get Cubans over here. Fortunately I do have some Cubans from some international traveling I did. Unfortunately none of the ones I have are the ones you mention!!!

Thanks for the info though!

gr8erdane

10-14-2006, 01:53

A pairing I can recommend for the puro-deficient members is a Fuente Opus X (whatever size you prefer as I've never had a bad Opus X) with Pappy 20. Unfortunately, it's almost a sensory overload as the two outstanding choices seperately are enough to eliminate "whiskey dick" but together are like turbo-Viagra.....

DrinkyBanjo

10-14-2006, 07:19

Good news is I have a bottle of Pappy 20, bad news is that my local B&M doesn't have any Opus X right now. When they do I'll give it a go.

gr8erdane

10-14-2006, 21:33

If they don't carry Opus X, they might carry Diamond Crown which is a close second to me...

DrinkyBanjo

10-15-2006, 05:27

Never heard of these before, I'll check it out.

gr8erdane

10-15-2006, 11:29

I seem to recall that the Diamond Crowns were created by Fuente as well for western states that didn't usually get included in the distribution of Opus X. I'm not sure that is still the case as I found Opus Xs in Colorado Springs a couple of years ago, but the DCs are all large ring guage if that's what you prefer. I've tried their newer offering the Diamond Crown Maxximus and find the original more enjoyable. BTW, both are pretty pricey for non-puros but they epitomize (sp?) the narrowing gap between puros and the rest of the market.

Edward_call_me_Ed

10-16-2006, 00:12

I don't really recognize the brands that you guys talk about since I don't see them on the shelf here. What do you pay for a good mid shelf cigar? Top shelf? I like coronas or larger for the most part. I am going to be in the States in a week or so. I am not going to be bringing anything with me so I want to know what I will be spending.

DrinkyBanjo

10-16-2006, 05:02

What I would consider a 'good' cigar will be about $5-$7. I would say anythign over $10 top shelf.

Edward_call_me_Ed

10-16-2006, 06:28

What I would consider a 'good' cigar will be about $5-$7. I would say anythign over $10 top shelf.

Thanks.

Ed

TimmyBoston

11-09-2006, 03:45

Recently I've gotten into pipes and I find that a pipe makes a much better companion to a snifter of bourbon over a cigar, IMO. Particularly Virginia tobacco. Latakia blends will be too smoky, but go very well with peaty Scotches. Cigars are wonderful, but for me with the exception of Tribute, Stagg and Pappy 15 none of my bourbons can hold up to a cigar without being overpowered and being given an astringent taste. Now, once in a while I enjoy quality European cigarettes like Dunhill, now I don't recommend that with any bourbon at all. The smoke is too strong and it deadens the tongue.

Recently I acquired some Rattray Marlin Flake (a virginia tobacco tinned by a Danish tobaccoist)at my local tobacco shop, It's also available online, it pairs better with bourbon than any tobacco product (pipe or cigar), I've ever tried, by a huge amount.

TimmyBoston

11-09-2006, 03:49

it's almost a sensory overload as the two outstanding choices seperately are enough to eliminate "whiskey dick" but together are like turbo-Viagra.....

Is an that Opus X in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? :slappin:

mythrenegade

11-09-2006, 22:11

I really like Eagle Rare 10yo with a cigar. I can drink it neat with a cigar, but without a cigar I tend to drop in ice, which is my preferred method of consumption for bourbon. I also really like the complexity of Elijah Craig 18yo with a cigar. They blend very, very nicely.

Wild Turkey can be harsh with a cigar in my experience. Didn't stop me from finishing the bottle though in a few weeks of roasting coffee :grin: (I usually pair cigars and bourbon while sitting in front of a coffee roaster roasting coffee for our church coffee shop. Really.)

Woodford Reserve was completely overpowered by a cigar, NOT recommended. Oddly, I really like ETL but don't find it to be a good cigar companion. I don't think I ever tried the EC12 with a cigar, so I can't comment on that. Ditto Knob Creek & Pappy Van Winkel 20yo.

Lastly Maker's Mark seems to do better than the WR with a cigar, but it is not my preferred pour when smoking. It is probably my "standard pour" when I am not smoking, however.

As for cigars, I really like H.Upmann cigars, although I also enjoy Montecristos and a few powerful smokes (I usually smoke a robusta or a big double corona, no matter what the brand). I do not have the money to buy things like Fuente Opus X, so I don't. My favorite cigars, unfortunately, are cuban montecristos. I have had cuban cohibas and another brand I don't remember, and the montecristos are my favorite. I really wish my favorite cigars were not cubans, because they are expensive and unobtainium in the US...

Joel

boss302

03-29-2007, 23:45

I've been experimenting recently. I like my bourbon, but I'm new to cigars. That doesn't keep me from picking a few pairings that I thought worked really well, however...

My favorite cigars, currently, are the Ashton cabinet series. I've had cabinets 6, 7, and 8. All have been aged 4-5 years, and all have that older, more mature flavor. These are lighter, smoother cigars, IMHO, and pair particularly well with Blanton's. I've tried them with Knob Creek and Baker's, but found both too sweet. Booker's was simply overpowering. Russells' Reserve 10-year (the more recent one-- I never had a taste of the previous release) also paired rather well. Generally, I'm looking for bourbons that have a mature taste, with a balance of wood, spice, and a touch of sweetness. I might even try my Eagle Rare 17-year with an Ashton Cabinet Series at some point.

I'm not specifying cabinets, as I can't really tell the difference between them yet, but they all have a similar general flavor.

I also like Ashton's Maduros, which are dark and sweet. Therefore, I found they pair very well with Baker's and Knob Creek, which are both strong, dark, and sweet. Both have more than enough body to not be overpowered by the cigar. I have been thinking about trying a maduro with my new bottle of Ezra B. 12-year...

I diverge from the cigar mainstream when I pick a Carlos Torano (can't remember the exact series, the tobaccanist helped select it), which is a spicier, more peppery cigar. Basil Hayden's was my first guess, and it worked out rather well, though the bourbon seemed a little light in body. I'm guessing Old Grand-Dad 114 might pair a little more closely.

Russellc

07-03-2007, 06:06

I second the Opus X and Pappy 20 yr old. I recently smoked my last 2 Opus X.....Next best thing to me is the Fuente Don Carlos....Then something in the Hemmingway line, either the short story, or the signature.